Hemophilic arthropathy (HA) is a typically iron overload induced joint disease secondary to continuous joint bleeding, however, the exact role of iron chelators in HA has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated whether desferoxamine (DFO), an iron chelator, could limit the development of HA and the underlying mechanisms.A HA mice model was established by needle puncture in the left knees of FVIII-deficient hemophilic mice. HA progression was evaluated at 8 weeks after DFO administration. Moreover, chondrocytes were treated with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) to mimic iron overload in vitro. Modulating effect of DFO on iron overload induced oxidative stress, chondrocytes apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and the role of HIF-1α-BNIP3 mediated mitophagy were examined.We found that DFO limited the development of HA and protected iron overload induced ECM degradation, chondrocytes apoptosis and oxidative stress. Besides chelating Fe2+, we found that HIF-1α-BNIP3 mediated mitophagy played important roles in the protective effect of DFO. HIF-1α inhibition suppressed chondrocytes mitophagy process and partly diminished the protective effect of DFO on chondrocytes iron overload.In conclusion, DFO could protect against HA development via HIF-1α-BNIP3 mediated mitophagy, suggesting DFO might be a potential therapeutic supplement for HA treatment.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.